The Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) convened a meeting of experts focusing on enhancing Africa’s participation in the WTO, from the September 7-8, 2009.

The meeting considered the status of the WTO from agriculture, non-agriculture market access, trade facilitation among others. The meeting also discussed Africa’s positions in the current negotiations.

In agriculture, the key issues of negotiations still include the Special Safeguard Mechanisms (SSM), Special Products and also tariff capping and designation of sensitive products. The overall trade distorting support is also another grey area as well as export competition issues export credit, export credit guarantee and the cotton subsidies.

The outcomes of the Delhi mini-ministerial outlined agriculture negotiations in a two tracks process. Firstly, the technical discussion on outstanding issues such as Special Safe Mechanism, sensitive products and secondly on the templates for WTO member’s schedules of commitment which includes the data needed to undertake this exercise.